Product Acceptance Test Lead

DTC | A Codan Company; Whiteley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ annual leave plus bankolidays

Company pension with matching up to 9%

Company bonus scheme

Flexible core working hours

Annual pay reviews

Personal training and development

Income protection

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Modern working environment in Whiteley

Job summary

DTC | A Codan Company develops advanced wireless communication technology for demanding environments and is seeking a Product Acceptance Test Team Lead in Whiteley. You will head a small team that validates firmware, waveform and embedded software updates, ensuring overall product performance before release.

You'll combine hands-on testing with leadership, designing test plans, setting acceptance criteria, and driving automation opportunities across RF, electronics, FPGA, firmware, software and

Qualifications

• Experience in product testing, verification, validation or acceptance testing of wireless systems.
• Sound understanding of RF and wireless fundamentals.
• Experience designing test processes, setups, plans and procedures.
• Ability to investigate problems across software, hardware, RF and networking.
• Strong communication skills and collaboration with engineers from different disciplines.
• Experience guiding other engineers or taking technical ownership of a test function.

Responsibilities

• Lead the test approach for product updates and validate firmware and waveform releases.
• Design test plans, procedures and acceptance criteria for updates.
• Lead validation of firmware, embedded software and RF products.
• Perform hands-on testing using radio, network and RF test equipment.
• Investigate failures and work with engineering teams to determine root causes.
• Improve and document test processes and explore test automation opportunities.
• Plan team activities and provide test effort estimates for projects.
• Support field trials and customer acceptance activities when required.

Skills

Team leadership

Test planning

RF fundamentals

Hands-on testing

Test processes design

Test automation

Communication skills

Tools

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

C

Job description

Location: United Kingdom, Whiteley, Hampshire, GB

DTC | A Codan Company develops advanced wireless communication technology used in some of the world's most demanding environments.

From software-defined radios and high-performance wireless networks to communications for defence, uncrewed systems, government and broadcast applications, our engineers work on complex products where software, electronics and RF come together.

We’re looking for a Product Acceptance Test Team Lead to lead the team that validates updates to our wireless communication products before they are released.

When a new firmware release or waveform is introduced, you’ll help establish whether the new functionality works as intended and whether the rest of the product continues to perform as it should. This is a hands‑on engineering role focused on validating products during development, rather than routine testing of individual units after manufacture.

What You’ll Be Working On

You’ll lead a small team of test engineers, taking responsibility for the test approach while remaining closely involved in practical testing and fault investigation.

Your Work Will Include

• Designing test plans, procedures, setups and acceptance criteria for product updates
• Leading the validation of firmware, embedded software and waveform releases
• Testing wireless communication products and integrated systems to identify functional and performance issues
• Carrying out hands‑on testing using radio, network and RF test equipment
• Investigating failures and working with engineering teams to understand their causes
• Improving and documenting our product acceptance test processes
• Identifying opportunities to automate repeatable tests
• Planning team activities and providing test effort estimates for projects
• Supporting field trials and customer acceptance activities when required

You’ll initially lead two existing team members, with a third expected to join the team. You’ll work closely with colleagues across RF, electronics, FPGA, firmware, software and DSP engineering.

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in someone who can bring structure to complex testing, lead a small team and still enjoy getting hands‑on with the products.

You’ll Ideally Have

• Experience in product testing, verification, validation or acceptance testing of wireless communication systems
• A sound understanding of RF and wireless fundamentals
• Experience designing test processes, setups, plans and procedures
• The ability to investigate problems across software, hardware, RF and networking
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work with engineers from different disciplines
• Experience guiding other engineers or taking technical ownership of a test function

Experience with RF receivers or wireless products would be particularly relevant. Your background could be in broadcast, defence communications, telecoms or another sector involving complex radio systems. You don’t need to be a specialist RF designer.

Experience in any of the following would be valuable:

• IP networking and wireless networking
• Using spectrum analysers, signal generators or power meters
• Network diagnostic and packet‑analysis tools
• Developing automated tests or test utilities using Python, C, MATLAB, LabVIEW or similar tools
• Planning or participating in field trials

Why DTC?

You’ll test sophisticated products where software, electronics, RF and networking all affect real-world performance.

Ownership and impact

You’ll shape how product updates are validated, improve the team’s test processes and help ensure releases are ready for customers.

A hands‑on leadership role

You’ll lead and develop a small team while staying involved in test design, practical testing and technical problem‑solving.

Work alongside specialists

You’ll collaborate with engineers across multiple disciplines and build a broad understanding of our wireless communication technology.

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Company pension with matching up to 9%
• Company bonus scheme
• Flexible core working hours
• Annual pay reviews
• Personal training and development
• Income protection
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Modern working environment in Whiteley

You’ll also be joining a global organisation with engineering and technology teams across the UK, USA, Denmark, Singapore, Dubai and Australia.

Security Clearance

Successful applicants will need to be willing and eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance.

Interested?

If you enjoy making complex wireless products work reliably, improving how they’re tested and leading a hands‑on engineering team, we’d like to hear from you.